With so many supplements available, how do you know what’s best for you? Below, Dr. Chapman discusses what he recommends most often to his patients and why you may need to be supplementing even if you’re eating a balanced diet.

Vitamin D

Think you’re getting enough vitamin D? Think again.

“I assume everyone is deficient in vitamin D until proven otherwise,” says Dr. Chapman. “In fact, I find most new patients who come to me who aren’t supplementing have a vitamin D range in the 10s or 20s. The optimal range is in the 40s or 50s.”

Dr. Chapman says vitamin D deficiency, which occurs when the range is less than 30, can put people at an increased risk for heart disease, breast, colon and prostate cancer, anxiety, depression and bone loss.

Dr. Chapman says generally, 1,000 International Units (IU) of vitamin D supplementation can raise levels by 10 points. He recommends 1,000-2,000 IU of vitamin D a day. “Our Cooper Complete Basic One has 2,000 IU, which is why I recommend it to my patients,” says Chapman.

Omega-3

Omega-3 supplements are among the most important supplements and one Dr. Chapman recommends most often to his patients.

“Omega-3 can benefit overall heart health and is the basic building block for neurons in the brain,” explains Dt. Chapman. However, Dr. Chapman says many of the patients he sees still aren’t getting enough.

“Optimal levels of omega-3 would be 7 to 8 percent and above,” says Dr. Chapman. “Most people who don’t take omega-3 supplements or don’t have an omega-3 rich diet find themselves around 2 to 4 percent.”

Dr. Chapman says the Japanese population often has the highest omega-3 levels, with an average of 14 percent. He explains, “that’s due to the amount of fish they consume, as fish is a great source of omega-3.”

“Generally we say cold water fish have omega-3, so your fattier fish such as salmon, tuna and farm-raised trout are excellent sources,” says Dr. Chapman. Other sources of omega-3 include leafy greens, like spinach, as well as chia seeds and walnuts.

Prostate Health

If you’re a male over the age of 50 and find yourself using the restroom throughout the night, it could be the first sign of an enlarged prostate.

“As men get older, their prostate gets bigger and it can cause urinary voiding or obstructing symptoms,” says Dr. Chapman.

“Some studies show 50 to 60 percent of men who have mild to moderate prostate symptoms report improvement while taking a supplement,” says Dr. Chapman. That being said, he warns his patients that taking a prostate supplement requires patience.

“It’s not like Tylenol where you take one and get rid of your headache,” says Dr. Chapman. “You have to use it for a while. I usually put them on a 3-month trial and look for improvements.”

Joint formula

“When my father-in-law was in his mid-70s, he found he couldn’t use his computer keyboard because of his arthritis,” says Dr. Chapman. His father-in-law was taking an over-the-counter joint formula supplement, but wasn’t finding much relief.

“I said try ours, it’s more concentrated,” says Dr. Chapman. “He called me two months later and said it was working, that he wasn’t having any pain in his hands.”

The Cooper Complete Joint Health Supplement was originally developed for people who suffer from osteoarthritis, but can also help provide relief to those who suffer from tennis elbow or other repetitive motion pain.

Calcium

Did you know 99 percent of your body’s calcium is stored in your bones and teeth? The remaining one percent plays a big role by helping blood vessels move blood throughout the body and by helping muscles expand and contract.

Like all vitamins and minerals, Dr. Chapman says he encourages his patients to get their calcium through their diet, but he knows sometimes even that isn’t enough.

“The average diet has about 500 to 700 mg of calcium in it, unless you’re eating a lot of calcium rich foods like spinach and Greek yogurt,” says Dr. Chapman. “I tell my patients to eat as much calcium as they can and supplement the difference.”

Recommended doses of calcium are different for men and women. Chapman recommends women consume 1,200 to 1,500 mg calcium/day and that men consume 1,000 to 2,000 mg calcium/day.

Chapman suggests people keep a food journal to keep track of how much calcium they’re consuming.

“If you’re not getting enough through your diet, I recommend Cooper Complete Calcium Citrate,” says Dr. Chapman. “The citrate in our supplement is easier on the stomach and can be taken by people who have digestive issues.”

Why Cooper Complete?

You can find supplements similar to those listed above in almost any drug store or online health retailer in the world. So why does Dr. Chapman recommend Cooper Complete vitamins to his patients?

“If you take one of our Cooper Complete supplement bottles and compare it with an over-the-counter option, you’ll see the contents of our vitamins are more robust,” says Dr. Chapman. “For example, most over-the-counter supplements may have 15 to 20 mcg (600 to 800 IU) of vitamin D. Cooper Complete has 50 mcg (2,000 IU).”

For Dr. Chapman, who has been taking Cooper Complete vitamins for nearly a decade, taking fewer vitamins but gaining more nutrients is what makes Cooper Complete so great.

“My Omega-3 level has gone up and my vitamin D level is great,” says Chapman. “I feel good about what I’m consuming.”

† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

The information on this site is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or health care provider. Consult your physician or health care provider before changing any supplement, nutritional or exercise program, or if you suspect you may have a health problem.

Convenient Vitamin Subscription Plan Saves Time and Money

To ensure you always have a supply of Cooper Complete multivitamins and mineral supplements, join our Vitamin Delivery Subscription Program. You choose how often you would like a shipment, with 30, 60, 90 and 120 day options. If you have two or more bottles (of the same product or mix and match among products) shipped at the same time, you get free shipping!

Vitamin Subscription Enrollment Is Easy

Display the production information for the first item you would like to add to your cart, and click on the blue “Get Started” button to create a subscription. From there, choose a shipping frequency of 30 days, 60 days, 90 days or 120 days and the quantity desired, and add the item to your cart. Repeat this process for as many different products as you like, and choose a shipping frequency that best matches your use of that product. For example, you might want Advanced Omega-3 fatty acids and Joint Health supplement every 30-days, and a bottle of Basic One Multivitamin & Mineral Supplement every 60-days. Click here to start your subscription for Cooper Complete Advanced Omega-3.